Shoe philosophy

No matter how much I love the basic white sneaker, which lucky for me is making a big return this year, I am also a fanatic for unreasonably high heels. I had a kind of revelation lately that some of those pairs I have never even worn, but I guess you are not surprised. However, this made me ask myself the question how many shoes would in fact be enough.

Just the other day I heard someone mentioning a number I may only reach in ten years with my current shopping tempo (5 pairs on average per year). On the other hand I can’t bring myself to even imagine the Japanese Vogue’ editor-at-large Anna Dello Russo 4,000-plus pairs which she keeps in an adjacent flat. In complete contrast to that and absolutely incredible sound the words of all women favourite fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker that she has a very small and disappointing closet of shoes which she has never counted. What she says is that she has many shoes that are two decades old and that she loves, but they are relevant.

Another fashion icon and influential en-vogue person not only wears always Manolos, but they look almost the same – nude slingbacks with a delicate kitten-heel which never veer too far from her skin tone (she is rumoured to have different shades of the style for when she has a suntan). You know who I am talking about – the American Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Then there is Oprah Winfrey who makes a statement about shoes only with those two famous quotes of hers: “Some women have a weakness for shoes… I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books.”
And ‘I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.’
Yet when asked how many shoes does she own, Oprah replies she doesn’t know but she adds “I think I have as many shoes as Jackie Kennedy did. I really do. I think he said like 150 pairs or something like that.”

All these women, strong, iconic and charismatic remind me of Salvatore Ferragamo’s words:
“I have divided the women who have come to me into three categories: the Cinderella, the Venus and the Aristocrat.
The Cinderella takes a shoe smaller than size Six, the Venus takes size Six, the Aristocrat a Seven or larger.
The Cinderella, I have observed, is essentially a feminine person, a lover of jewels and furs, who must be in love to be truly happy.
Venus is usually of great beauty, glamour and sophistication, yet under her glittering exterior she is often essentially a home body, loving the simple things of life. Because these two characteristics are mutually contradictory, the Venus is often misunderstoof. People accuse her of too much luxury-loving and frivolity. The Aristocrats are sensitive, even moody, but possess a great depth of understanding.”

I know immediately who I am, what about you? How many shoes do you have in your wardrobe and what do you think is enough?